Dubai Chambers has explored opportunities to strengthen economic cooperation with the Republic of Serbia during a recent business mission to Belgrade, aimed at enhancing bilateral relations across a range of mutual interest sectors.
The delegation was led by His Excellency Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansoori, Chairman of Dubai Chambers, alongside Mohammed Ali Rashid Lootah, Director General of Dubai Chambers, as part of the “Growth Corridors” initiative that focuses on establishing frameworks for trade and investment collaboration between Dubai and global markets while creating new economic partnership opportunities.
New Horizons
His Excellency Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansoori remarked, “The growing cooperation between Dubai and Serbia reflects our shared commitment to opening new avenues for trade and investment exchange. This visit presents an opportunity to foster dialogue between business communities and explore strategic partnerships that align with our mutual economic goals, contributing to the creation of quality opportunities and the development of vital sectors. This aligns with our ongoing efforts to enhance international cooperation and establish constructive partnerships with various global markets.”
During the visit, the Dubai Chambers delegation held several meetings and roundtable discussions with Serbian entities to enhance cooperation. This included a meeting with the Serbian Ministry of Internal and Foreign Trade, attended by Minister Jagoda Lazarević, focusing on broadening and diversifying the bilateral investment and trade links under the comprehensive economic partnership agreement between the UAE and Serbia. Key sectors discussed included food and agriculture, tourism, renewable energy, and logistics, with an emphasis on attracting technical talent.
The Dubai Chambers delegation extended an invitation to Serbian firms to participate in significant trade exhibitions hosted in Dubai, underscoring the intention to collaborate on organizing bilateral business events that facilitate direct communication and partnership building between Serbian companies and their Dubai counterparts.
The delegation also hosted a roundtable with the Serbian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, featuring seven leading entrepreneurs in business technology from Serbia. Discussions highlighted Dubai’s annual strategy targets to accelerate the adoption of artificial intelligence applications and the role of Dubai Chambers in supporting the expansion of Serbian digital firms into Dubai, capitalizing on promising opportunities within the emirate’s advanced technological business framework.
Discussions during this meeting focused on enhancing collaborative efforts to boost bilateral partnerships, stimulating shared investment growth across various sectors between Dubai and Serbia. The prospects for cooperation in specialized exhibitions and events were also evaluated, aimed at strengthening trade ties and expanding business opportunities on both sides.
Roundtable Discussions
The delegation organized a roundtable with the Belgrade Science and Technology Park, which supports startups in converting innovations into commercial projects and products, as well as the Innovation Fund of the Republic of Serbia, which provides grants and funding programs to foster innovation and applied research in cutting-edge technology projects. The meeting discussed promising joint opportunities in innovation and advanced technologies between Dubai and Serbia, particularly in health tech, gaming, biotechnology, and blockchain technologies, while also seeking to enhance collaboration among startups and develop entrepreneurial ecosystems.
During the discussions, Dubai’s role in offering e-commerce companies from Serbia opportunities for regional expansion was emphasized, given the emirate’s position as a logistical and distribution hub due to its advanced infrastructure in the logistics and supply chain sectors.
The Dubai Chambers delegation also met with the Serbian Development Agency, the government body focused on supporting and attracting direct investment, promoting exports, and enhancing competitiveness and development. The discussions centered on increasing inter-investment flows between Dubai and Serbia, concentrating on strategic sectors such as manufacturing, mining, advanced technology industries, and funding opportunities for specialized investment projects in logistics, tourism, artificial intelligence, and pharmaceuticals.
Throughout the mission, Dubai Chambers highlighted the support available to Serbian businesses looking to establish operations in the emirate and expand into regional and global markets, especially in light of the promising opportunities presented by the comprehensive economic partnership agreement between the UAE and Serbia that will take effect in May 2025. Discussions also covered avenues for strengthened collaboration between companies in Dubai and Serbia across various sectors, including technology, innovation, real estate, trade, and financial services.
It is noteworthy that the non-oil trade volume between Dubai and Serbia reached 335.8 million dirhams in 2024, representing a 43.5% year-on-year growth compared to 2023. The number of Serbian companies registered with Dubai Chambers continues to rise, with 109 Serbian firms joining the chamber in 2025, bringing the total of active registered Serbian companies to 308 by the end of 2025, marking a 36.9% annual increase.
This visit is part of a series of international business missions organized by Dubai Chambers under the “Growth Corridors” initiative, aiming to enhance economic and trade cooperation between Dubai and promising global markets. The initiative seeks to open new channels for high-level communication and collaboration, develop bilateral relationships between business communities in Dubai and their international counterparts, and support strategic partnerships aimed at launching joint projects and enhancing sectoral integration. Furthermore, the initiative aligns with shifts in global economic landscapes, legislative frameworks, and investment incentives, enhancing the capacity of Dubai-based companies to confidently and efficiently enter and expand into new markets.